All publications

When the skills workers have do not match the skills that jobs require, a number of negative labour … Show more

When the skills workers have do not match the skills that jobs require, a number of negative labour market outcomes can occur, including productivity and efficiency losses, lowered earnings and reduced job satisfaction. Using data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, this study examines the degree of job mismatch experienced by workers. The mismatch between Show less

Increasing the number of people with vocational qualifications at the certificate III level or… Show more

Increasing the number of people with vocational qualifications at the certificate III level or higher was one of the targets set by the Council of Australian Governments in late 2008 as a way of increasing the skill levels of the Australian population. But why enrol in vocational education and training (VET)? This study looks at the employment and earning benefits for individuals in completing a Show less

The adoption of problem-based learning as a teaching method in the advertising and public relations … Show more

The adoption of problem-based learning as a teaching method in the advertising and public relations programs offered by the Business TAFE School at RMIT University is explored in this paper. The effect of problem-based learning on student engagement, student learning and contextualised problem-solving was investigated and it was found that students perceive problem-based learning to be Show less

 This paper summarises the findings from the first year of a three-year research program… Show more

 This paper summarises the findings from the first year of a three-year research program investigating the role of vocational education and training (VET) for older workers.  Show less

Paying particular attention to older workers, this report examines the relationship between the… Show more

Paying particular attention to older workers, this report examines the relationship between the skills of workers and the skill requirements of the jobs in which they work. Show less

The relationship between job requirements, individual skills and the participation of workers in… Show more

The relationship between job requirements, individual skills and the participation of workers in further education and training, with an emphasis on older workers, is the focus of this report. Show less

This study examines where and how NCVER's research has influenced vocational education and training … Show more

This study examines where and how NCVER's research has influenced vocational education and training (VET) policy and practice. Show less

In light of recent developments in educational policy and the positioning of vocational education… Show more

In light of recent developments in educational policy and the positioning of vocational education and training (VET) across the European Union, it was timely to explore these new directions and the lessons for Australian VET. Show less

This paper considers three aspects of vocational education and training's (VET) contribution to the … Show more

This paper considers three aspects of vocational education and training's (VET) contribution to the labour market: the relationship between their training and the occupations VET graduates work in; the extent to which the qualified proportion of the workforce has increased; and the link between VET and skills acquisition. Finally, some thoughts are aired on the implications of the economic Show less

This paper aims to provide a picture of the occupations in the community services and health… Show more

This paper aims to provide a picture of the occupations in the community services and health industry, and how the workforce obtains the required skills. The authors argue that planning for the industry should concentrate on occupations specific to the industry and those which require high skill levels. Findings suggest that the qualification levels of community services and health workers have Show less

This literature review provides a historical account of the development of competency-based… Show more

This literature review provides a historical account of the development of competency-based training in Australia and summarises the issues arising from the range of reviews conducted on elements of the national training system. The review was commissioned by the National Quality Council and originally published on its website. Show less

The report highlights that there is no simple fix to increasing employer investment in training… Show more

The report highlights that there is no simple fix to increasing employer investment in training which has generally not been a core component of long-term business planning. Show less

Information on the divergence between student numbers and delivery hours for the period 2002 to… Show more

Information on the divergence between student numbers and delivery hours for the period 2002 to 2007 is provided in this technical paper. The change in hours from one year to the next is decomposed into three effects, one of which is 'hours inflation', whereby nominal hours increase over time for the same unit of competency or module. Here we show that the 'hours inflation' explains relatively Show less

This paper is a review of literature on employer engagement with vocational education and training… Show more

This paper is a review of literature on employer engagement with vocational education and training (VET). The main conclusion is that the major form of engagement is through the competency-based training system, which is manifested through training packages. Another way employers are encouraged to engage with VET is through competition amongst training providers. This provides employers with Show less

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher… Show more

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher education officials, in December 2008. Show less

Understanding Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system can be daunting for… Show more

Understanding Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system can be daunting for observers. This paper, written as a background paper for a visit from the OECD, describes Australia's VET system and how it relates to the broader set of education and learning options that are available to Australians. Show less

The difficulties experienced by vocational education and training (VET) teachers in delivering the… Show more

The difficulties experienced by vocational education and training (VET) teachers in delivering the generic employability skills embedded in industry training packages are considered in this paper. Show less

The findings of a cultural industries skills audit undertaken in 2008 in Katherine, Northern… Show more

The findings of a cultural industries skills audit undertaken in 2008 in Katherine, Northern Territory, are explored. The case study focusses in particular on the practical challenges and implications of auditing skills in a diverse industry sector and considers the usefulness of such an audit in preparing an industry for predicted change. This paper is the result of a 2008 NCVER New Researcher Show less

Recent trends in the provision of vocational education and training (VET) diplomas and advanced… Show more

Recent trends in the provision of vocational education and training (VET) diplomas and advanced diplomas are outlined in this paper. The paper also looks at how people with diplomas and advanced diplomas are faring in the labour market. The picture is rather mixed, suggesting that those with diplomas and advanced diplomas fare, on average, better than those with other VET qualifications or no post Show less

This study examined the implementation of an intensive reading pedagogy, Reading-to-Learn, in adult … Show more

This study examined the implementation of an intensive reading pedagogy, Reading-to-Learn, in adult literacy classrooms. In this method, the teacher plays a crucial role in carefully selecting relevant topics, genres and texts that are slightly beyond the current reading ability of students, and in designing 'scaffolding moves' that build very deliberate preparation into every level of classroom Show less